Filter media questions

[jmats]

I have a fluval 406 and it's my first time using a canister filter.

I'm having a hard time getting nitrates in my tank every time I test my water they come up at 0ppm. I have read that it is ideal to have around 10ppm.

I am using carbon
500g of biomax filter media
Water polishing pads

Any ideas on how to pump some better quality water?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[PB_Smith]

I have a fluval 406 and it's my first time using a canister filter.

I'm having a hard time getting nitrates in my tank every time I test my water they come up at 0ppm. I have read that it is ideal to have around 10ppm.

I am using carbon
500g of biomax filter media
Water polishing pads

Any ideas on how to pump some better quality water?


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

is a planted tank? That would be the only reason to want nitrates present, otherwise, there is nothing wrong with the water quality.

That ideal 10ppm is ideal because it can be difficult to get them that low consistently, A lot of people run at 10-50ppm.
If your water is testing 10ppm, there is nothing wrong in that regard.
How about ammonia and nitrite, how do those test?

 

[jmats]

It's not planted. I guess I'm good then lol. Everything is 0 with 8.0 ph. This is obviously for African cichlids.


Sent from my iPhone using Aquarium Advice

 

[Ardynas]

I was having that problem too. For me, I wasn't shaking the second nitrate bottle enough and it was giving me a 0 reading. Once I started banging it against the counter it started reading the nitrates.